Top-joint for buggies



No. 752,960. PATENTED FER-23,1904.

- H. J. DOUGLAS.

TOP JOINT FOR BUGGIES.

APPLIQATION FILED 00113, 1903. 4

30 MODEL.

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. Patented February 23, 1904. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT JENNER DOUGLAS, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

TOP-JOINT FOR BUGGlES- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,960, dated February 23, 1904.

Application filed October 13, 1903. Serial No. 176,908. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, HERBERT JENNER Done- LAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkhart, Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Top-Joints for- Buggies, Carriages, &c., of-which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in top-joints for buggies and carriages, and has for its object the production of a joint which will be concealed from view; will permit the top to crush flat, and will not mar nor tear any part of the top or trimmings.

With this object in view it consists of the construction herein described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view of a buggy-top having a portion of the covering torn away to show my joint in place. Fig. 2 is a view of the joint, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the top, showing the location of my joint. Fig. L is a sectional View on line w a? of Fig. 2.

The joint is composed of three elements the arms a and 6, the joint box or sleeve 0, to which the arms are pivoted, and the handle d. The arms a. and b are preferably constructed of fiat metal and are pivoted at their outer ends to the elbows e, which in turn are secured to bows forming the top of the buggy and are pivoted at their inner ends to the joint box or sleeve 0, which may be of any suitable construction, but which I prefer to make rectangular in form and inclosed on three sides, the fourth or upper side being open for its entire length. The arms are pivoted near the ends of the sleeve in such a manner as to is preferably formed from a metal bar having its ends turned at right angles to the body thereof andhaving these ends split. The ends are passed through holes in the lower side of the sleeve as far as the washer (Z' will permit and the ends upset, thereby securing the same firmly in place.

It will be observed that my joint is placed between the last and the next to the last bows of the buggy-top and is secured to the horizontal portion at the upper extremity of the bow, being placed just inside the webbing and top padding. This places the joint in the position where it will be nearer the point of strain and will form a more effective brace for the top, and when so placed it is impossible for it to mar the leather covering of the bow, tear the lining or trimmings of the top, or pinch the top materials or the hands of the operator, as frequently happens with the oldstyle joints when placed at a point lower down on the bows, and when. so placed the only portion of the joint that is visible is the handle 0?.

The operation of the device is obvious. A slight downward pull on the handle 01 breaks the rigidity of the joint and causes the outer ends of the arms a and Z) to move toward each other, and thus draw the bows together; but inasmuch as the inner ends of the arms are pivoted at opposite ends of the sleeve there is no sharp angle formed at this point; but as the arms have free motion on their pivots the outer ends can be moved up until they meet, thus allowing the top to crush flat.

This joint is especially adapted for victoria and other crush tops, as in lowering the bows the joint will pass over the back of the carriageseat, together with the trimmings, and will allow the bows to come close together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A top-joint for buggies consisting of arms pivoted at one end to the top-bows and at the other end to a connecting member, said joint being secured to the horizontal portion at the upper extremity of the bows and inside of the webbing and padding of said top, substantially as described.

2. Atop-joint for buggies consisting of arms tion at the upper extremity of the top-bows IO pivoted at one end to a connecting member substantially-as described. and at the other end to the horizontal portion In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in at the illpper gxtrergigv of the top-bows, subpresence of tWo Witnesses. 5 stantia y as eseri e 3. In a top-joint for buggies, the combina- HERBERT JENNEB DOUGLAS tion with a joint box or sleeve, of arms having Witnesses: one end pivoted therein, said arms being se- WM. BRUSMAN, cured at the other end to the horizontal por- OLIVER DOTY. 

